The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-24
SOCIALLY.
The Masonic Installation.

The Masonic installation.
Monday evening was the annual occasion
for the installation Of the Occidental lodge
No. 40, A. +. and A. Masons. A large mum.
Der of friends and acquaintance of the mem.
bers, together with the latter and their wives
and lady friends, assembled in the fne hall,
Opera house block, to witness the impress
| sivc, magnificent ceremonies Of the install
lation, and to take part in the social affairs
to follow. AT eight o'clock there were at
least 400 people in the hall, for the seating
possibilities were taxed to their fullest
capacity, while not n few stood in the end Of
the hall, and listened from the ante rooms
The first thing on the programme, was, of
course, the installation Of the officers elected.
to serve for the ensuing year. District Dep,
Grand Master Milligan, acting for the Grand
Master Of the Grand Lodge Of the state of
Illinois, assumed position at the left Of
the dias. and read the ritual which placed
the sceptre of dignity in the hands of the
oIHCCiS NiNS'' hwy H4c' NnaS' b' iVt'i',
Worshipful Master; W, X. Stewart Senior
Warden; Chas. H. Dunbar, Junior Warden;
Jas. McManus, Senior Deacon; Jas. L. vii.
son, Junior D aeon; D. G. Mills, Senior
Steward John f Farnswortb, Junior Stew
ard; Chas. II. Hook, Marshal; Rev. D. J.
Holmes, Chaplain; and Alex Hanna, Tyler.
At intervals, during the ceremonies, the
popular quartetie, Messrs. Hook, Degen,
Trimble and Stewart, gave some very accept
able vocal selections in their best style, and
were Loudly opplaq3ed by the audience,
After the conclusion Of the installation,
Hon. Henry Mayo favored the initiated and
the unlimited vita brief, though very
clear aud concise history Of the birth, growth
and purpose of masonry. Masonry was
founded by the ml3ons and builders who
crested that great triumph of ancient srchi.
lecture, solomon. temple. After the build.
Ing Of the temple, the architect, and builders
carried mason ry into Egypt, where it soon
gained permanent foothold. 1t was carried
to Rome and even to the furthcst ends Of
the civilized world. In the middle ages it
was somewhat neglected, and meetings were
held secretly aud in the most unfrequented
places. In later years, freed from the OPP.
preston Of hostile opponents, it blossomed
forth in England with increased ardor, and
o grand lodge was formed 1t came to
America with the first settlers, and now in
all the ends of the earth, in all nations and
under all flags, from the ice bergs of the
north, to the burning sands of the south,
Masonery is found everywhere.
At the close of Mr.. Mayos address the
quartette gave another selection, and then
the audience filed out, allowing the floor to
be cleared for dancing, when the doors were
again opened and Willis orchestra Of five
pieces was discovered on the dias, and more
people than was absolutely necessary as
sembled for the grand march The next was
a quadrills. again taxing the capacity of the
door, A waltz had the same effect, though
more than half Of those originally seated in
the hall had gone homeward. Investigation
Of the ante rooms, found the more sedate en-
gagged in the extreemly popular and fascin.
mating game of euchre.
1t was grand fraternal and social sue
cess, and the masons have shown that when
it comes to entertaining, as in everything
else, they are all Masters.